Transmission apparatus and method, reception apparatus and method, management apparatus and method, charging apparatus and method, providing apparatus and method, and recording medium

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a transmission apparatus for transmitting digital content data via a communication medium, comprising attachment means for attaching cost information per unit data volume to the digital content data; and transmission means for transmitting the digital content data attached with the cost information after converting a data format of the digital content data attached with the cost information into a data format suitable to the communication medium.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a transmission apparatus andmethod, a reception apparatus and method, a management apparatus andmethod, a charging apparatus and method, a providing apparatus andmethod, and a recording medium. More particularly, the present inventionrelates to a transmission apparatus and method, a reception apparatusand method, a management apparatus and method, a charging apparatus andmethod, a providing apparatus and method, and a recording medium whichare suitably for use in distribution and sale of content data forexample via information communication media.

Currently, services are being practiced in which digital content datasuch as news, video data, music, and games are distributed and sold vianetworks like public switched lines and the Internet. Purchasers ofthese digital content data must pay two kinds of fees, datacommunication fee and content fee, separately as shown in FIG. 1.

The volume of the data communication fee is determined depending on anvolume of data (or the number of packets) communicated or a time spentfor the data communication.

The unit of content fee setting is one piece of digital content data. Inthis unit, each content fee is determined by considering the attributesof the digital content data, namely type (AV data, still picture data,text data, etc.), quality (compression scheme, transfer rate, etc.),data freshness (new version, old version, brand, etc.), usage conditions(the number of times used, duration of time used, etc.), and copyrightinformation (copy free, copy protected, etc.)

However, the payment of two kinds of fees for purchased digital contentdata presents a problem that, for users who want to use only part ofparticular digital content data, the content fee setting system must bedivided into segments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to sell digitalcontent data in any requested data volume by distributing requesteddigital content data with the information about the cost per unit datavolume without dividing the content fee setting system into segments.

In carrying out the invention and according to one aspect thereof, thereis provided a transmission apparatus for transmitting digital contentdata via a communication medium, comprising: attachment means forattaching cost information per unit data volume to the digital contentdata; and transmission means for transmitting the digital content dataattached with the cost information after converting a data format of thedigital content data attached with the cost information into a dataformat suitable to the communication medium.

In the above-mentioned transmission apparatus, the attachment meansattaches, as the cost information, at least one of a unit price of theunit data volume and attribute information of the digital content datathereto.

The above-mentioned transmission apparatus further comprises divisionmeans for dividing the digital content data into predetermined unit datavolumes.

The above-mentioned transmission apparatus still further comprisesnotification means for notifying a management unit of transmissioninformation about the digital content data transmitted by thetransmission means.

The above-mentioned notification means notifies the management unit of,as transmission information about the digital content data transmittedby the transmission means, at least one of the cost information,information for identifying a sender, information for identifying arecipient, and a data volume of the digital content data transmitted.

In carrying out the invention and according to another aspect thereof,there is provided a transmission method for transmitting digital contentdata via a communication medium, comprising the steps of: attaching costinformation per unit data volume to the digital content data; andtransmitting the digital content data attached with the cost informationafter converting a data format of the digital content data attached withthe cost information into a data format suitable to the communicationmedium.

In carrying out the invention and according to still another aspectthereof, there is provided a recording medium recording acomputer-readable program for the above-mentioned transmissionapparatus, the computer-readable program comprising the steps of:attaching cost information per unit data volume to the digital contentdata; and transmitting the digital content data attached with the costinformation after converting a data format of the digital content dataattached with the cost information into a data format suitable to thecommunication medium.

In carrying out the invention and according to yet another aspectthereof, there is provided a reception apparatus for receiving digitalcontent data transmitted via a communication medium, comprising:reception means for receiving the digital content with its data formatconverted into a data format suitable for the communication medium andrestoring the received digital content data; removal means for removingthe cost information from the restored digital content data; and

-   -   reproduction means for reproducing the digital content data        deprived of the cost information.

The above-mentioned reception apparatus further comprises notificationmeans for notifying a management unit of reception information about thedigital content data received by the reception means.

In the above-mentioned reception apparatus, the notification meansnotifies, as the reception information about the digital content datareceived by the reception means, at least one of the cost information,information for identifying a sender, information for identifying arecipient, and a data volume of the received digital content data.

In carrying out the invention and according to a different aspecttherefor, there is provided a reception method for receiving digitalcontent data transmitted via a communication medium, comprising thesteps of: receiving the digital content with its data format convertedinto a data format suitable for the communication medium and restoringthe received digital content data; removing the cost information fromthe restored digital content data; and reproducing the digital contentdata deprived of the cost information.

In carrying out the invention and according to a still different aspectthereof, there is provided a recording medium recording acomputer-readable program for the above-mentioned reception apparatus,the computer-readable program comprising the steps of: receiving thedigital content with its data format converted into a data formatsuitable for the communication medium and restoring the received digitalcontent data; removing the cost information from the restored digitalcontent data; and reproducing the digital content data deprived of thecost information.

In carrying out the invention and according to a yet different aspectthereof, there is provided a management apparatus for managing purchaseand sale of digital content data transmitted from a transmission unitand received by a reception unit via a communication medium, comprising:reception means for receiving at least one of transmission informationand reception information about the digital content data from a givenpoint on a communication route between the transmission unit and thereception unit inclusive; and computation means for computing, on thebasis of at least one of the transmission information and the receptioninformation received by the reception means, a sale price of the digitalcontent data via the communication medium.

The above-mentioned management apparatus further comprises transmissionmeans for transmitting information about the sale price of the digitalcontent data computed by the computation means to a charging unit.

In the above-mentioned management apparatus, the computation meanscomputes the price of the digital content data sold via thecommunication medium by multiplying cost information included in thereception information received by the reception means by a data volumeof the received digital content data.

In carrying out the invention and according to a separate aspectthereof, there is provided a management method for managing purchase andsale of digital content data transmitted from a transmission unit andreceived by a reception unit via a communication medium, comprising thesteps of: receiving at least one of transmission information andreception information about the digital content data from a given pointon a communication route between the transmission unit and the receptionunit including the both; and computing, on the basis of at least one ofthe transmission information and the reception information received inthe reception step, a sale price of the digital content data via thecommunication medium.

In carrying out the invention and according to a still separate aspectthereof, there is provided a recording medium recording acomputer-readable program for the above-mentioned management apparatus,the computer-readable program comprising the steps of: receiving atleast one of transmission information and reception information aboutthe digital content data from a given point on a communication routebetween the transmission unit and the reception unit including the both;and computing, on the basis of at least one of the transmissioninformation and the reception information received in the receptionstep, a sale price of the digital content data via the communicationmedium.

In carrying out the invention and according to another aspect thereof,there is provided a first charging apparatus for charging for digitalcontent data attached with cost information per unit data volumetransmitted from a transmission unit to a reception unit via acommunication medium, comprising: acquisition means for acquiring a saleprice of the digital content data on the basis of the cost informationper unit data volume; and charging means for charging a user of thereception apparatus on the basis of the sale price acquired by theacquisition means.

In the first charging apparatus, the acquisition means acquires the saleprice along with a usage fee for using the communication medium and thecharging means fees the sale price along with the usage fee furthercomprises: distribution means for dividing an amount of money paid bythe user of the reception unit into a portion covering the sale priceand another covering the usage fee.

In carrying out the invention and according to still another aspectthereof, there is provided a first charging method for charging fordigital content data attached with cost information per unit data volumetransmitted from a transmission unit to a reception unit via acommunication medium, comprising the steps of: acquiring a sale price ofthe digital content data on the basis of the cost information per unitdata volume; and charging a user of the reception apparatus on the basisof the sale price acquired in the acquisition step.

In carrying out the invention and according to yet another aspectthereof, there is provided a recording medium recording acomputer-readable program for the first charging apparatus, thecomputer-readable program comprising the steps of: acquiring a saleprice of the digital content data on the basis of the cost informationper unit data volume; and charging a user of the reception apparatus onthe basis of the sale price acquired in the acquisition step.

In carrying out the invention and according to a different aspectthereof, there is provided a second charging apparatus for charging fordigital content data transmitted from a transmission unit to a receptionunit via a communication medium, comprising: acquisition means foracquiring information about a sale price of the digital content data;synthesis means for synthesizing the information about the sale priceacquired by the acquisition means with information about a usage fee foruse of the communication medium; and charging means for charging a userof the reception unit on the basis of synthesized information suppliedby the synthesis means.

The second charging apparatus further comprises distribution means fordividing an amount of money paid by the user of the reception unit intoa portion covering the sale price and another covering the usage fee.

In carrying out the invention and according to a still different aspectthereof, there is provided a second charging method for charging fordigital content data transmitted from a transmission unit to a receptionunit via a communication medium, comprising: acquiring information abouta sale price of the digital content data; synthesizing the informationabout the sale price acquired in the acquisition step with informationabout a usage fee for use of the communication medium; and charging auser of the reception unit on the basis of synthesized informationsupplied in the synthesis step.

In carrying out the invention and according to a yet different aspectthereof, there is provided a recording medium recording acomputer-readable program for the second charging apparatus, thecomputer-readable program comprising: acquiring information about a saleprice of the digital content data; synthesizing the information aboutthe sale price acquired in the acquisition step with information about ausage fee for use of the communication medium; and charging a user ofthe reception unit on the basis of synthesized information supplied inthe synthesis step.

In carrying out the invention and according to a separate aspectthereof, there is provided a third charging apparatus for charging fordigital content data transmitted from a transmission unit to a receptionunit, comprising: acquisition means for acquiring information about saleprice of the digital content data: synthesis means for synthesizing theinformation about sale price acquired by the acquisition means withinformation about a usage fee for use of information transmitted fromthe transmission unit; and charging means for charging a user of thereception unit on the basis of the synthesized information supplied bythe synthesis means.

The third charging apparatus further comprises distribution means fordividing an mount of money paid by the user of the reception unit into aportion covering the sale price and another covering the usage fee.

In carrying out the invention and according to a still separate aspectthereof, there is provided a third charging method for charging fordigital content data transmitted from a transmission unit to a receptionunit, comprising the steps of: acquiring information about sale price ofthe digital content data: synthesizing the information about sale priceacquired in the acquisition step with information about a usage fee foruse of information transmitted from the transmission unit; and charginga user of the reception unit on the basis of the synthesized informationsupplied in the synthesis step.

In carrying out the invention and according to a yet separate aspectthereof, there is provided a recording medium for the third chargingapparatus, the computer-readable program comprising the steps of:acquiring information about sale price of the digital content data:synthesizing the information about sale price acquired in theacquisition step with information about a usage fee for use ofinformation transmitted from the transmission unit; and charging a userof the reception unit on the basis of the synthesized informationsupplied in the synthesis step.

In carrying out the invention and according to a yet different aspectthereof, there is provided a fourth charging apparatus for charging fora predetermined service ordered from a first unit to a second unit via anetwork, comprising: extraction means for extracting cost informationfrom order information provided by the second unit to the first unit forordering the predetermined service from the first unit to the secondunit via the network; and charging means for charging a user of thefirst unit on the basis of the cost information extracted by theextraction means.

In the fourth charging apparatus, the extraction means extracts the costinformation from the order information at a given point on the networkbetween the first unit and the second unit inclusive.

In carrying out the invention and according to another aspect thereof,there is provided a fourth charging method for charging for apredetermined service ordered from a first unit to a second unit via anetwork, comprising the steps of: extracting cost information from orderinformation provided by the second unit to the first unit for orderingthe predetermined service from the first unit to the second unit via thenetwork; and charging a user of the first unit on the basis of the costinformation extracted in the extraction step.

In carrying out the invention and according to still another aspectthereof, there is provided a recording medium recording acomputer-readable program for the fourth charging apparatus, thecomputer-readable program comprising the steps of: extracting costinformation from order information for ordering the predeterminedservice from the first unit to the second unit via the network; andcharging a user of the first unit on the basis of the cost informationextracted in the extraction step.

In carrying out the invention and according to yet another aspectthereof, there is provided a providing apparatus for providing apredetermined service ordered from a unit via a network, comprising:attachment means for attaching cost information about the predeterminedservice to order information for ordering the predetermined service by auser of the unit; transmission means for transmitting the orderinformation attached with the cost information to the unit via thenetwork; and acceptance means for accepting an order placed by the unitvia the network on the basis of the order information transmitted by thetransmission means.

The above-mentioned providing apparatus further comprises instructionmeans for instructing the providing apparatus to provide the orderedservice the unit when the order placed on the basis of the orderinformation transmitted by the transmission means has been accepted bythe acceptance means.

In carrying out the invention and according to a separate aspectthereof, there is provided a providing method for providing apredetermined service ordered from a unit via a network, comprising thesteps of: attaching cost information about the predetermined service toorder information for ordering the predetermined service by a user ofthe unit; transmitting the order information attached with the costinformation to the unit via the network; and accepting an order placedby the unit via the network on the basis of the order informationtransmitted in the transmission step.

In carrying of the invention and according to a still separate aspectthereof, there is provided a recording medium recording acomputer-readable program for the above-mentioned providing apparatus,the computer-readable program comprising the steps of: attaching costinformation about the predetermined service to order information forordering the predetermined service by a user of the unit; transmittingthe order information attached with the cost information to the unit viathe network; and accepting an order placed by the unit via the networkon the basis of the order information transmitted in the transmissionstep.

In the transmission apparatus and method and recording medium associatedwith the invention, cost information per unit data volume is attached todigital content data, the resultant digital content data is convertedinto a data format suitable for a communication network, and theresultant digital content data are transmitted.

In the reception apparatus, reception method, and recording mediumassociated with the invention, the digital content data in the dataformat suitable for the communication medium are received and restoredto their original data format. The cost information is separated fromthe restored digital content data and the resultant digital content dataare reproduced.

In the management apparatus and method and recording medium associatedwith the invention, transmission information or reception information isreceived from a given point on a communication route between atransmission unit and a reception unit inclusive and, on the basis ofthe received information, the sale price of digital content data soldvia a communication medium is computed.

In the first charging apparatus and method and recording mediumassociated with the invention, the sale price information of digitalcontent data is acquired on the basis of the price information per unitdata volume. In addition, on the basis of the acquired sale price, acharging process is performed on the user of the reception unit that hasreceived the digital content data.

In the second charging apparatus and method and recording mediumassociated with the invention, the sale price information of digitalcontent data is acquired and the acquired sale price information issynthesized with a usage fee of a communication medium. In addition, onthe basis of the synthesized information, a charging process is executedon the user of the reception unit that has received the digital contentdata.

In the third charging apparatus and method and recording mediumassociated with the invention, the sale price information of digitalcontent data is acquired and the acquired sale price information issynthesized with a usage fee of the information separate from thedigital content data, the information transmitted from the transmissionunit that has transmitted the digital content data. On the basis of thesynthesized information, a charging process is performed on the user ofthe reception unit that has received the digital content data and theinformation.

In the fourth charging apparatus and method and recording mediumassociated with the invention, cost information is extracted from orderinformation for ordering services from a first unit to a second unit viaa network. On the basis of the extracted cost information, a chargingprocess is performed on the user of the first unit.

In the providing apparatus and method and recording medium associatedwith the invention, cost information for services is added to orderinformation for ordering services from a unit via a network and theresultant information is transmitted to that unit. In addition, theorders of services made on the basis of the order information areaccepted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects of the invention will be seen by reference tothe description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a related-art fee computation methodfor the purchase of digital content data;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a concept of a digitalcontent data distribution system to which the present invention isapplied;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a fee computation method according tothe present invention for the purchase of digital content data;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplaryconfiguration of the digital content data distribution system to whichthe present invention is applied;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart describing content providing processing;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart describing content communication processing;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart describing content usage processing;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart describing content fee charging processing;

FIG. 9 is another schematic block diagram illustrating an exemplaryconfiguration of the digital content data distribution system to whichthe present invention is applied;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a concept of a productdistribution system to which the present invention is applied;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration ofthe product distribution system to which the present invention isapplied;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart describing product provision processing;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart describing product transaction communicationprocessing;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart describing product purchase processing;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart describing product fee charging processing; and

FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of apersonal computer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This invention will be described in further detail by way of examplewith reference to the accompanying drawings.

Now, referring to FIG. 2, the concept of a digital content datadistribution system according to the present invention will bedescribed. The concept of this system is novel in that a cost isintegrated with digital content data (hereinafter also referred tosimply as content), namely a content fee is included in a communicationfee as viewed from the user side, a unit price per unit data volume isset, and the content and the cost are distributed at the same time,namely cost information is attached to digital content data.

In the above-mentioned digital content data distribution system, aninformation provider 1 which sells content sells content on demand by auser 3. When the purchase of content is requested, cost information perunit data volume is attached to the requested content, which is thentransmitted from the information provider 1 to the user 3 via aninformation communication network (or a communication medium) managed bya carrier 2.

The information provider 1 may be an individual, an institution, or abusiness entity who is the creator, licenser, owner, collector, manager,or distributor of content for example. The carrier 2 may be an Internetservice provider, a telecommunications company, or a broadcastingcompany for example. Consequently, the information communication networkmay be the Internet, a public telephone network, a television network, aradio network, a cable television network, and a satellite televisionnetwork for example.

The user 3 is charged by a fee collection service company 4 for theacquisition of digital content data. The fee is computed by multiplyingthe data volume of the digital content data acquired by the user 3 bythe unit price per unit data volume.

The cost information per unit data volume (a unit price or informationfor identifying the unit price) to be attached to digital content datacan be set by the content provider 1 as desired. Therefore, as shown inFIG. 3, for a same data volume, its fee may differ from one article ofdigital content data to another.

The fee collection service company 4 which collected the fee forpurchased digital content data from the user 3 distributes the collectedfee to the information provider 1 and the carrier 2 in accordance withthe agreements concluded between them. It should be noted that variouscombinations are possible in which the carrier 2 also serves as thecharge collection service company 4 for example.

The following describes an exemplary configuration of the digitalcontent data distribution system associated with the present inventionwith reference to FIG. 4.

An information providing server 5 is managed by the information provider1 and comprises a content integration block 11. The components, atransmission block 12 through a reception block 16, are managed by thecarrier 2. A user terminal 6 is equivalent to a personal computer forexample which is operated by the user 3 and comprises a contentseparation block 17 and a content reproduction block 18. A feecollection server 7 is managed by the fee collection service company 4and comprises a management unit 19 and a charging unit 20.

The content integration block 11 adds the cost information about a unitdata volume concerned to each predetermined unit data of content andoutputs the resultant digital content data to the transmission block 12.

To be more specific, the cost information is added to the header of eachpacket of digital content data and the resultant packet is outputted tothe transmission block 12. The cost information may be an amount ofmoney if the unit price (amount of money) of a unit data volume can bedetermined in the management unit 19 or the information indicative ofattributes (type, quality, etc.) of digital content data (in this case,an attribute versus information unit price table must be prepared in themanagement unit 19).

The transmission block 12 converts the data format of the digitalcontent data attached with the cost information per unit data volumeinputted from the content integration block 11 into a data formatsuitable for the information communication network 14 in accordance witha predetermined protocol. The transmission block 12 transmits theconverted digital content data to the reception block 16 via theinformation communication network 14.

A gating block 13 of the transmission block 12 acquires information foridentifying the communication information (attached cost information,transmitted data volume, communication time, and sender (namely theinformation provider 1) associated with the digital content data to betransmitted via the information communication network 14 and theinformation about the recipient (namely the user 3) and sends thesepieces of acquired information to the management unit 19.

A gating block 15 of the reception block 16 acquires the information foridentifying the communication information (added cost information,received data volume, communication time, and sender (namely theinformation provider 1) associated with the digital content received viathe information communication network 14 and the information about therecipient (namely the user 3) and transmits these pieces of acquiredinformation to the management unit 19.

It should be noted that the processes by the gating blocks 13 and 15 maybe executed at the same time the digital content data are transmittedand received or, after storing the communicated information, or thedigital content data, for a predetermined period, the communicatedinformation accumulated in that period may be collectively transmittedto the management unit 19.

The reception block 16 receives the digital content data via theinformation communication network 14, restores the original data formatof the received digital content data in accordance with a predeterminedprotocol, and outputs the resultant content to the content separationblock 17.

The content separation block 17 separates the cost information from thedigital content data and outputs the resultant digital content data tothe content reproduction block 18. The content reproduction block 18reproduces the digital content data removed of the cost informationinputted from the content separation block 17.

The management unit 19 compares the communication information receivedfrom the gating block 13 of the transmission block 12 with thecommunication information received from the gating block 16 of thereception block 16. If the supply of the digital content data from theinformation provider to the user has been confirmed (the confirmationmay be made from the communication information outputted from one of thegating blocks 13 and 15), the management unit 19 computes multiplies thecost information included in the communication information by the datavolume to compute the sale price of the digital content data and outputsthe sale price to the charging unit 20.

Also, the management unit 19 sends the usage information and charginginformation of the digital content data to the information providingserver 5 and the user terminal 6.

The charging unit 20 charges the user 3 for the digital content data onthe basis of the sale price received from the management unit 19.

The following describes a sequence of processes for providing digitalcontent data from the information provider 1 to the user 3 and thedistribution of the amount of money collected from the user 3 to theinformation provider 1 and the carrier 2 with reference to theflowcharts shown in FIGS. 5 through 8.

First, the content provision processing by the information providingserver 5 managed by the information provider 1 will be described withreference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5.

In step S1, the information providing server 5 checks for a request forcontent from the user terminal 6 operated by the user 3. This operationis repeated until a request has come. If a request for content is found,the procedure goes to step S2.

In step S2, the information providing server 5 reads the requestedcontent from a predetermined content database. Each unit data volume ofthe retrieved content is integrated by the content integration block 11with the cost information of that unit data volume. In step S3, thecontent integration block 11 outputs the digital content data attachedwith the cost information in step S2 to the transmission block 12.

The following describes the content communication processing by thecomponents, the transmission block 12 through the reception block 16,managed by the carrier 2 with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.6.

In step S11, the transmission block 12 converts the data format of thedigital content data attached with the cost information inputted fromthe information providing server 5 into a data format suitable for theinformation communication network in accordance with a predeterminedprotocol and sends the resultant digital content data to the receptionblock 16 via the information communication network 14.

In step S12, the gating block 13 of the transmission block 12 acquiresthe information for identifying the communication information (attachedcost information, transmitted data volume, communication time, andsender (namely the information provider 1) associated with thetransmitted digital content data and the information associated with therecipient (the user 3)) and sends these pieces of information to themanagement unit 19.

In step S13, the reception block 16 restores the original format of thedigital content data received via the information communication network14 in accordance with a predetermined protocol. In step S14, the gatingblock 15 of the reception block 16 acquires the information foridentifying the communication information (attached cost information,received data volume, communication time, and sender (namely theinformation provider 1) associated with the received digital contentdata and the information associated with the recipient (the user 3)) andsends these pieces of information to the management unit 19.

In step S15, the reception block 16 sends the digital content datarestored in step S13 to the user terminal 6.

The following describes the content usage processing by the contentseparation block 17 and the content reproduction block 18 whichconstitute the user terminal 6.

In step S21, the user terminal 6 requests the information providingserver 5 for digital content data. In response to this request, theinformation providing server 5 sends the requested digital content datain the same manner as described above.

In step S22, the user terminal 6 receives at the content separationblock 17 the digital content data transmitted from the reception block16.

In step S23, the content separation block 17 separates the costinformation from the digital content data received in step S22 and sendsthe resultant digital content data to the reproduction block 18.

In step S24, the content reproduction block 18 reproduces the digitalcontent data removed of the cost information inputted from the contentseparation block 17.

The following describes content fee charging processing by themanagement unit 19 and the charging unit 20 constituting the feecollection server 7 managed by the fee collection service company 4,with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 8.

In step S31, the management unit 19 matches the communicationinformation supplied from the gating block 13 of the transmission block12 with the communication information supplied from the gating block 15of the reception block 16 to confirm that the digital content data havebeen supplied from the information provider server 5 to the userterminal 6. Then, the management unit 19 multiplies the cost information(namely, unit price) included in the communication information by thereceived data volume on the side of the user terminal 6 (namely, thetransmitted data volume on the side of the information provider server5) to compute the sale price of the digital content data. Further, themanagement unit 19 computes the communication fee on the basis of thedata volume and the communication time.

In step S32, the management unit 19 synthesizes the digital content datasale price obtained in step S31 with the communication fee and sends theresult to the charging unit 20 as charging information.

In step S33, the management unit 19 sends the usage information andcharging information of the digital content data to the informationprovider server 5 and the user terminal 6.

In step S34, the charging unit 20 charges the user 3 on the basis of thecharging information supplied from the management unit 19 in step S32.Namely, the user 3 is charged for the content sale price included in thecommunication fee.

In step S35, the charging unit 20 distributes the amount of moneycollected from the user 3 in step S34 to the information provider 1 (thesale price of the digital content data) and the carrier 2 (thecommunication fee) in accordance with the agreements previouslyconcluded between the information provider 1 and the carrier 2.

It should be noted that the above-described relationships between thecontent integration block 11 through content reproduction block 18, theinformation provider 1, the carrier 2, the user 3, and the feecollection service company 4 are not restricted to them. For example,the transmission block 12 and the gating block 13 may be arranged andmanaged by the information provider 1. The gating block 15 and thereception block 16 may be included in the user terminal 6. Othervariations are also practicable.

FIG. 9 shows an exemplary configuration of a digital content datadistribution system in which the carrier 2 is a broadcasting company. Inthis example, a transmission block 12, a gating block 13, and ainformation communication 14 are prepared as a broadcasting facilitynetwork for transmitting the ground or satellite wave. In this example,a gating block 15 is included in a user terminal 6 and the usageinformation of the received digital content data is sent to a managementunit 19 via a public telephone line for example. The charginginformation to be transmitted to the user terminal 6 from the managementunit 19 is also transmitted via the public telephone line for example.In this example, the sale price of digital content data is integratedwith the fee of broadcast programs and the resultant amount is chargedon the user.

In the foregoing, the digital content data distribution systems havebeen described in which a unit price per unit data volume of digitalcontent data is set, digital content data are sold in a desired datavolume, and the user is charged for that data volume. The presentinvention is also applicable to a product distribution system.

First, the concept of a product distribution system to which the presentinvention is applied will be described with reference to FIG. 10. Thisnovel concept is that product menu data (order information) areaccompanied with product costs (or prices).

In this product distribution system, a product provider 31 which sellsproducts sends product menu data via a network (or a communicationmedium) at the request by a user 3. At this moment, the product menudata are attached with cost information for each product and theresultant data are transmitted from the product provider 31 to the user3 via an information communication network (or a communication medium)managed by a carrier 2.

If the user 3 received the product menu data and purchases a productfrom the product menu data, purchase information is transmitted to theproduct provider 31 from the user 3 via the information communicationnetwork managed by the carrier 2. The product provider 31 transmits thedelivery information to a delivery company 32 and instructs the deliveryof the product specified by the purchase information. Thus, the user 3can receive the product from the delivery company 32.

The user 3 is charged by a fee collection service company 4 for thepurchased product. The price of the product purchased by the user 3 isattached to the product menu data transmitted from the product provider31 to the user 3 and the fee collection service company 4 detects theproduct price from the product menu data.

Having collected the fee from the user 3, the fee collection servicecompany 4 distributes the collected fee to the carrier 2, the productprovider 31, and a delivery company 32 in accordance with the agreementsconcluded between them. It should be noted that various othercombinations are practicable in which the carrier 2 also serves as thefee collection service company 4 for example.

The following describes an exemplary configuration of theabove-mentioned product distribution system with reference to FIG. 11.With reference to FIG. 11, components similar to those previouslydescribed with FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals and thedescription of these components will be skipped.

A product server 41 is managed by the product provider 31 andconstituted by a content integration block 11. The other basicconfigurational parts are the same as those shown in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, the content integration block 11 transmits content;in this example, however, the content integration block 11 outputsproduct menu data as content. The product menu data are attached withcost information for each product.

To be more specific, the header of a data packet of each productincluded in the product menu data is written with the cost informationof that product and the resultant data packet is transmitted to atransmission block 12. The cost information about each product in thisexample is not the fee of that product as the data to be displayed onthe display monitor of the user terminal 6 but the information which canbe automatically determined as the fee for the product in a managementunit 19. If the management unit 19 can recognize this information, thefee for the product may be described directly or the informationindicative of product attributes (type, quality, etc.) may be described(in the latter case, a table listing the correlation between attributeinformation and product fees must be prepared in the management unit19).

The transmission block 12 converts the data format of the product menudata attached with the cost information for each product inputted fromthe content integration block 11 into a data format suitable for aninformation communication network 14 and transmits the resultant productmenu data to a reception block 16 via the information communicationnetwork 14.

A gating block 13 of the transmission block 12 acquires thecommunication information (attached product cost information,transmitted data volume, sender (namely the product provider 31,recipient (namely, the user 3), and, if the recipient purchases aproduct, the information for identifying the product to be purchased)about the product menu data received via the information communicationnetwork 14 and sends the acquired information to the management unit 19.

A gating block 15 of the reception block 16 acquires the communicationinformation (attached product cost information, received data volume,sender (namely the product provider 31, recipient (namely, the user 3),and, if the recipient purchases a product, the information foridentifying the product to be purchased) about the product menu datareceived via the information communication network 14 and transmits theacquired information to the management unit 19.

It should be noted that the processes by the gating blocks 13 and 15 forthe transmission of the product menu data from the product provider 31may be executed at the same time as the transmission or reception of theproduct menu data or the product menu data may be transmitted to themanagement unit 19 every time the product menu data are updated.

The reception block 16 restores the original data format of the productmenu data received via the information communication network 14 andoutputs the restored product menu data to a content separation block 17.

The content separation block 17 separates the cost information from theproduct menu data and outputs the resultant product menu data to acontent reproduction block 18. The content reproduction block 18reproduces the product menu data inputted from the content separationblock 17.

The management unit 19 receives the communication information from thegating block 13 of the transmission block 12 and the communicationinformation from the gating block 15 of the reception block 16. Further,the management unit 19 matches the received communication informationwith the information for identifying the purchased product obtained fromthe purchase information transmitted from the user terminal 6 to theproduct provider server 41 to extract the sale price of the productordered by the user 3, transmitting the obtained sale price to acharging unit 20.

Moreover, the management unit 19 sends the usage information of theproduct menu data and the charging information about the product orderedby the user to the product provider server 41 and the user terminal 6.

The charging unit 20 charges the user 3 for the purchased product on thebasis of the sale price supplied from the management unit 19.

The following describes a sequence of processes for supplying productmenu data from the product provider 31 to the user 3 and the amount ofmoney collected from the user 3 is distributed to the carrier 2, theproduct provider 31, and a delivery company 32, with reference to theflowcharts shown in FIGS. 12 through 15.

First, the product providing process by the product provider server 41managed by the product provider 31 will be described with reference tothe flowchart shown in FIG. 12.

In step S41, the product provider server 41 determines whether there isa request from the user terminal 6 operated by the user 3 for sendingproduct menu data (namely, there is an access by the user terminal 6).The product provider server 41 repeats this operation until the requestis found. If the request is found, the procedure goes to step S42.

In step S42, the product provider server 41 reads the requested productmenu data from a predetermined database and adds to the retrievedproduct menu data the cost information of each product included in theproduct menu data in the content integration block 11.

In step S43, the content integration block 11 outputs the product menudata attached with the cost information to each product in step S42 tothe transmission block 12.

In step S44, the user terminal 6 that has received the product menu datadetermines whether the purchase information for requesting the purchaseof product has been transmitted. If the purchase information is foundnot transmitted, the procedure returns to step S41 and waits untilanother request for product menu data comes.

If, in step S44, the purchase information is found transmitted, then theprocedure goes to step S45 to accept the product specified in thepurchase information.

In step S46, the product provider server 41 transmits the informationabout the ordered product and the delivery information including theinformation about purchaser to a delivery management server 42 managedby the delivery company 32 contracted for product delivery in advance.

The following describes a communication process for product transactionby the components, the transmission block 12 through the reception block16, managed by the carrier 2 with reference to the flowchart shown inFIG. 13.

In step S61, the transmission block 12 converts the data format of theproduct menu data attached with the cost information for each productinputted from the product provider server 41 to the reception block 16via the information communication network 14.

In step S62, the gating block 13 of the transmission block 12 acquiresthe information (attached cost information, transmitted data volume,information for identifying sender (the product provider 31), andinformation for identifying the recipient (the user 3)) associated withthe transmitted product menu data and sends the acquired information tothe management unit 19.

In step S63, the reception block 16 restores the original data format ofthe product menu data supplied via the information communication network14.

In step S64, the gating block 15 of the reception block 16 acquires theinformation (attached cost information, received data volume,information for identifying sender (the product provider 31), andinformation for identifying the recipient (the user 3)) associated withthe received product menu data and sends the acquired data to themanagement unit 19.

In step S65, the reception block 16 transmits the product menu datarestored in step S63 to the user terminal 6.

In step S66, the reception block 16 determines whether the purchaseinformation for requesting product purchase has been transmitted fromthe user terminal 6 to the product provider server 41 in response to theproduct menu data transmitted to the user terminal 6. If the purchaseinformation is found not transmitted, the procedure returns to step S61to execute the above-mentioned process when another piece of productmenu data comes.

If, in step S66, the purchase information is found transmitted from theuser terminal 6, then the procedure goes to step S67. In step S67, thegating block 15 of the reception block 16 extracts, from the receivedpurchase information, the communication information (information foridentifying product to be purchased, product delivery fee, communicationfee (or the information necessary for computing communication fee),information for identifying sender (the user 3), and information foridentifying recipient (the product provider 31)) and sends the extractedcommunication information to the management unit 19.

In step S68, the transmission block 12 sends the purchase informationsupplied from the user terminal 6 to the product provider server 41.

The following describes a product purchasing process to be executed bythe content separation block 17 and the content reproduction block 18constituting the user terminal 6 with reference to the flowchart shownin FIG. 14.

In step S81, the user terminal 6 requests the product provider server 41for product menu data. In response, the product provider server 41transmits the requested product menu data as described above (step S43of FIG. 12).

In step S82, the user terminal 6 receives at the content separationblock 17 the product menu data supplied from the reception block 16.

In step S83, the content separation block 17 separates the costinformation from each product included in the product menu data receivedin step S82 and outputs the resultant product menu data to the contentreproduction block 18.

In step S84, the content reproduction block 18 reproduces the productmenu data removed of the cost information for each product inputted fromthe content separation block 17.

In step S85, from the product menu reproduced in step S84, the userterminal 6 determines, instructed by the user 3, whether a productpurchase is requested by the user 3. If a product purchase is found notrequested, then the procedure returns to step S81 to execute theabove-mentioned process again.

If, in step S85, a product purchase is found requested by the user 3,then the procedure goes to step S86. In step S86, the user terminal 6sends the purchase information (information for identifying product tobe purchased, communication fee (or information necessary for computingcommunication fee), information for identifying sender (the user 3), andinformation for identifying recipient (the product provider 31)) to theproduct provider server 41.

The following describes a product fee charging process to be executed bythe fee collection server 7 managed by the fee collection servicecompany 4 with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 15.

In step S101, the management unit 19 receives the communicationinformation supplied from the gating block 13 of the transmission block12 and the communication information supplied from the gating block 15of the reception block 16. Then, the management unit 19 matches thereceived communication information with the communication informationfor identifying purchase product obtained at the gating blocks 13 and 15obtained from the purchase information transmitted from the userterminal 6 to the product provider server 41. At the same time, thecommunication fee is computed as required. The sale price and thedelivery fee are integrated with the communication fee.

In step S102, the management unit 19 sends the communication feecomputed (or synthesized) in step S101 to the charging unit 20.

In step S103, the management unit 19 sends the product charginginformation to the user terminal 6 and the product provider server 33.

In step S104, the charging unit 20 charges the user 3 on the basis ofthe communication fee obtained in step S102.

In step S105, the charging unit 20 distributes the product fee collectedfrom the user 3 in step S104 to the carrier 2 (the communication feebefore it is integrated with the content fee), the product provider 31(the sale price), and the delivery company 32 (the delivery fee).

In the above-described examples, each transaction in which the user 3purchases a product is established when the user 3 transmits thepurchase information about the product to be purchased via theinformation communication network 14 on the basis of the product menudata supplied from the product provider server 41. However, the productpurchase form is not restricted to those described above.

For example, if agreements have been concluded between the user 3 andthe product provider 31 to the effect that a product is delivered to theuser 3 on a certain specified day every month, the fee collectionservice company 4 can execute a charging process on the basis of theinformation acquired from the gating blocks 13 and 15 by causing theproduct provider 31 to transmit the product information including thecost information about that product to the user 3. In this case, theuser 3 need not transmit the purchase information to the productprovider 31 via the information communication network 14 every time inresponse to the information supplied from the product provider 31. Inthis case, the delivery company 32 may only deliver the purchasedproduct to the user 3 on a day specified by the product provider 31.

It should be noted that the present invention is applicable to anyservices that sell and/or buy digital content data through a givencommunication infrastructure.

The concentrated management of all services that sell and/or buy digitalcontent data through a given communication infrastructure enhances theconvenience for the user 3 because he may make payments only to the feecollection service company 4.

In addition, the user 3 need not execute the followings which arerequired with the prior-art. First, the user 3 is not required to entercertain certificates and personal information. Second, the user 3 neednot download or install new software into the terminal device. Third,the user 3 need not pay in advance (for example, prepaid fee, purchaseof electronic money, etc.). Fourth, the user 3 need not register withthe carrier 2 beforehand. Fifth, the user 3 can acquire economic safetyand security that the payment of fees is established by theestablishment of communication.

On the other hand, because the present invention allows the informationprovider 1 (the product provider 31) and the carrier 2 to secure thecollection of the content fee and the communication fee respectively,the present invention enhances the convenience of the sides of theseenterprises. In addition, when the charging is made depending on datavolume, the present invention allows the information provider 1 (theproduct provider 31) to set content costs as desired regardless of thedata volume of digital content data for sale.

In the above-mentioned preferred embodiments of the invention, the costinformation per unit data volume is attached to each unit data ofcontent. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the costinformation per unit data volume may be attached to a group of pluralpieces of unit data. The price of digital content data is computed bymultiplying a used or received data volume by the information cost perunit data volume.

In the above-mentioned preferred embodiments of the invention, thetransmission information associated with digital content data is sentfrom the transmission block to the management unit and the receptioninformation associated with the received digital content data is sentfrom the reception block to the management unit. The followingalternatives can also be practiced.

Namely, a server for managing data transmission arranged on acommunication route over which data are transmitted from a transmissionblock to a reception block may send the transmission informationassociated with this transmission to the management unit. Or a serverfor managing data transmission arranged halfway on a communication routeover which data are transmitted from a transmission block to a receptionblock may send the reception information associated with this receptionto the management unit. Or the server near the transmission block on thecommunication route may send the transmission information abouttransmission to the management unit and the server near the receptionblock arranged on the transmission route may send the receptioninformation about reception to the management unit.

Consequently, the management unit is given the transmission informationand the reception information from either the transmission block and thereception block, one of these information items from the server, or bothfrom the server. Namely, the management unit is supplied with thetransmission information and reception information about digital contentdata from a predetermined point on the communication route between thetransmission block and the reception block inclusive.

The above-mentioned sequences of processes can be executed by hardwareor software. The execution by software is supported by a computer inwhich the programs constituting the software are installed in adedicated hardware device beforehand or by a general-purpose personalcomputer capable of executing various capabilities in which theseprograms are installed from the program storage medium.

FIG. 16 illustrates an exemplary configuration of a personal computer inwhich the software for executing the above-mentioned sequence ofprocesses is installed. The personal computer incorporates a CPU(Central Processing Unit) 101. The CPU 101 is connected to aninput/output interface 105 via a bus 104. The input/output interface isconnected to an input block 106 composed of such input devices askeyboard and mouse, an output block 107 for outputting a processingresult, for example, an audio signal, a display block 108 constituted bya display monitor for displaying an image of a processing result, astorage block 109 constituted by a hard disk drive for storing programsand various data, a communication block 110 constituted by a modem forcommunicating data via a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet, and adrive 111 which executes a data read/write operation on a magnetic disc(including floppy disc) 112, an optical disc (including CD-ROM (CompactDisc-Read Only Memory) 113 and DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) 114, amagneto-optical disc (including MD (Mini Disc), or a semiconductormemory 115. The bus 104 is connected to a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102 anda RAM (Random Access Memory) 103.

The software for executing the sequence of processes is supplied to thepersonal computer as stored in one of the magnetic disc 112 through thesemiconductor memory 115. The supplied software is read by the drive 111and installed in the hard disk drive incorporated in the storage block109. The agent program stored in the storage block 109 is loaded fromthe storage block 109 into the RAM 102 for execution as instructed bythe CPU 101 on the basis of a command inputted from the input block 106by the user.

It should be noted that the steps describing the programs to be storedin the program storage medium are not only executed in a time-dependentmanner in the order described, but also in parallel or in a discretemanner.

It should also be noted that the system as used herein denotes an entireapparatus constituted by a plurality of component units.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed using specific terms, such description is for illustrativepurposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variationsmay be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the appendedclaims.

1. A digital content data distribution system for delivering and sellingdigital content data over a network to a user, the system comprising:means for computing a content fee per unit volume of said digitalcontent data; means for computing a communication fee charged for thedelivery of said digital content data over the network; means forintegrating said content fee with said communication fee, wherein theintegration of said content fee with said communication fee produces atotal fee, said means for integrating configured to include the totalfee in the digital content data; and means for delivering said digitalcontent data to the user over the network, wherein said digital contentdata is reproduced by the user by removing said total fee from saiddelivered digital content data.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The digital contentdata distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising:division means for dividing said digital content data into predeterminedunit data volumes.
 4. The digital content data distribution systemaccording to claim 1, further comprising: notification means fornotifying a management unit of transmission information about saiddigital content data delivered by said delivery means.
 5. (canceled) 6.A digital content data distribution method for delivering and sellingdigital content data over a network to a user, the method comprising:computing a content fee per unit volume of said digital content data;and computing a communication fee charged for the delivery of saiddigital content data over the network; integrating said content fee withsaid communication fee, wherein the integration of said content fee withsaid communication fee produces a total fee, said means for integratingconfigured to include the total fee in the digital content data; anddelivering said digital content data to the use after verifying that thetotal fee was received from the user, wherein said digital content datais reproduced by the user by removing said total fee from said delivereddigital content data.
 7. A recording medium recording acomputer-readable program for delivering and selling digital contentdata to a user over a network, said computer-readable programcomprising: computing a content fee per unit volume of said digitalcontent data; and computing a communication fee charged for the deliveryof said digital content data over the network; integrating said contentfee with said communication fee, wherein the integration of said contentfee with said communication fee produces a total fee, said means forintegrating configured to include the total fee in the digital contentdata; and delivering said digital content data to the user afterverifying that the total fee was received from the user, wherein saiddigital content data is reproduced by the user by removing said totalfee from said delivered digital content data.
 8. A reception apparatusfor receiving digital content data and a cost per unit volumeinformation of said digital content data transmitted via a communicationmedium, the apparatus comprising: means for receiving said digitalcontent with its data format converted into a data format suitable forsaid communication medium and restoring the received digital contentdata; means for removing said cost per unit volume information from therestored digital content data; and reproduction means for reproducingsaid digital content data without said cost per unit volume information.9. The reception apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:notification means for notifying a management unit of receiving said feeinformation by said means for receiving.
 10. (canceled)
 11. A receptionmethod for receiving digital content data and cost per unit volumeinformation of said digital content data transmitted via a communicationmedium, the method comprising: receiving said digital content with itsdata format converted into a data format suitable for said communicationmedium and restoring the received digital content data; removing saidcost per unit volume information from the restored digital content data;and reproducing said digital content data without said cost information.12. A recording medium recording a computer-readable program forreceiving digital content data and a cost per unit volume information ofsaid digital content data transmitted via a communication medium, saidcomputer-readable program comprising: receiving said digital contentdata with its data format converted into a data format suitable for saidcommunication medium and restoring the received digital content data;removing said cost per unit volume information from the restored digitalcontent data; and reproducing said digital content data without saidcost per unit volume information. 13-37. (canceled)